Composite Materials Based on Gelatin and Fillers from Renewable Resources

Abstract

Scraps of animal gelatin (WG), generated in pharmaceutical industry, were filmed by casting of water suspensions. To improve consistence of the films, gelatin scraps were blended with a synthetic biodegradable polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and fillers from renewable resources such as sugar cane bagasse (SCB) that is the lignocellulosic residue derived from sugar cane juice extraction. Glutaraldehyde was used as crosslinking agent to improve water resistance. In order to investigate the interactions among the components and the effect of composition on properties of the final items, thermal, thermomechanical and mechanical properties of some composite films based on WG, PVA and SCB were investigated.